As Fable concluded, she released her grip, allowing Kelm’s hands to gently slip through her own, and her glowing eyes returned to normal.
Normandy and Maebus stood speechless.
Kelm rubbed his achy temples in disbelief. “I-I…” He tried to speak but was still too much in shock. He took a moment to collect himself. “I can’t believe that after all these years, all these centuries, we’ve had it wrong. So the Realmsic Crystal is not the source of magic. It’s a conduit that stabilizes the magic that naturally exists within the Realm.”
“Correct!” Fable crossed her arms across her chest, nodding.
“My goodness. If Damian knew what we now know…” Maebus began.
“It’s imperative that he never does,” Fable interrupted.
“But wait,” Maebus held up a hand as if pausing the group. “Knowing this only reaffirms our conviction to protect the Realmsic Crystal. But we’re still no closer to reclaiming the kingdom than we were before.”
Maebus’ eyes grew stern. “Every day that we continue to run and hide the crystal, our people will suffer, and the longer it takes to find us, the harsher his actions will become towards the Realmsic people. As you said before, there has been no one like Damian. The Warlord is tenacious and vicious, and he won’t stop until he either finds us or destroys the Realm. Therefore, we must stop him!”
“Fable, is there anything you have or know of that can help us?” Kelm asked.
Fable gave a mischievous smile. “Why yes, I think I do.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Fable floated towards a nearby table and removed a book from its surface. The book was old and dusty, yet its spine was thick and strong. “How familiar are you with prophecy?” she asked the group, opening its cover, and looking intently at each of the three men in turn.
Normandy shrugged.
“Probably not as familiar as I should be,” Kelm admitted.
“And I really don’t know anything,” Maebus added.
Fable moved towards them.
“I was looking at something shortly before you arrived,” she said, flipping briskly through its pages. “I wish I would have discovered this before Damian’s invasion. I don’t believe that the rise of the Warlord was coincidental. His unique character traits and ability correspond to a time long ago prophesied by the First Wizards.”
She stopped at a page and presented the open book to Kelm. Maebus and Normandy gathered at Kelm’s shoulder to read along as Fable spoke.
“Nearly two thousand years ago, it was said that the culmination of the endless war would produce a conqueror capable of great destruction and evil. With him, the Realm would face its second Darkest Age. This conqueror, in his pursuit of Realmsic, would inadvertently bring forth the destruction of the world.”
“Whoa,” Normandy shuddered upon hearing her words.
Fable raised her head and placed a gentle hand upon his chest, feeling it rise and fall with each breath. “I sense extreme fear in you,” she said.
“I…” Normandy paused, placing his large hand above hers. “Deep down, I’ve always had a fear of magic,” he admitted. “Not so much with its performance, but with the unlimited power anyone could potentially possess with it. And what you mention about the destruction of the world … it just sends a shiver down my spine.”
Kelm traced each line of the page with his finger as he studied each word carefully. While still analyzing, he said to Fable, “I understand what was foreseen by the First Wizards, but prophecy is extremely subjective. There’s no way to know for sure that this is the foreseen time.”
Fable turned from Normandy to face Kelm. “True. But consider that a kingdom that has withstood countless conquerors has now fallen, the entire Realm is being held hostage by a madman, and the sacred Archival Order that has existed unscathed for thousands of years has suddenly been reduced to me. Personally, I’ve not seen a darker age than this.”
Kelm scratched his chin stubble. “Then that would mean, according to natural law...”
“Yes,” Fable interjected. “Natural law dictates that for what exists, so does its opposite. There must ever remain a balance.”
“That balance…. Are you referring to the Hero of Legend?” Kelm asked. “I’d heard of that prophecy long ago but never gave it any credence.”
Fable nodded in agreement. “Neither did I, until recently. It was prophesied that the rise of great evil would awaken one of great good. This Hero of Legend would possess the power to vanquish the evil one once and for all, which would end the endless war and bring peace to the Realm.”
Maebus took several steps away from the group and leaned against the table, his back to them. Fable’s gaze followed Kelm as he approached Maebus. He stopped just a couple of feet behind him as Maebus began to speak.
“Peace,” the word resonated throughout the entire lower level of the temple. “I fight to preserve our people’s way of life. But never have I seriously considered the war actually ending. Given our history, the possibility of such a thing seems rather … ridiculous.” Maebus turned towards them, his brow tight, his face reflecting anger. “If what you say is true, then why hasn’t this hero come forth?”
“Because he hasn’t been found yet,” Fable replied. “It’s likely that this person hasn’t even realized their significance yet. Sometimes it takes a catalyst event for one’s potential to be recognized. For example, the Warlord Damian was raised in the same Realm of conflict as the rest of us. Yet, none of us have ever felt the urge to conquer the kingdom. Something specifically happened in Damian’s young life that turned his heart cold. Likewise, despite the Realm’s current state, this Hero of Legend has remained pure of heart, but hasn’t yet received his calling.”
Normandy suddenly stood taller. “But who knows when that calling will occur?” he expressed, swaying his hands back and forth.
“Actually, you’re right. We don’t know when, but we do know what will occur,” Fable replied.
“What?” Normandy asked, scratching his shiny bald head.
“She means that in our case, we have a clear understanding of how this prophecy works. It’s not so vague, like other prophecies tend to be,” Kelm explained.
Fable raised a finger. “Yes. In fact, the prophecy says that the hero will be discovered by the Finder—one of equal benevolence and integrity. The encounter, I believe, will bring the hero into self-awareness, and the Finder will ultimately lead the hero into victory.”
“Are you serious?” Maebus punched a fist into his palm. His patience seemed to be wearing thin.
“Yes, your Highness. I consider such matters to be very serious,” Fable replied.
“So you’re suggesting that the threat of Damian is the catalyst for this prophecy written two thousand years ago?” Maebus shook his finger as he pointed at the book in Kelm’s hand. “And you’re telling me that a Hero of Legend—who may or may not exist—will save the Realm once he is found by a Finder?”
“Yes,” Fable replied. Her face was void of all expression.
“And how are we even to locate this Finder?” Maebus asked.
“Maebus,” Kelm interjected, but was ignored by him.
“We don’t have time to chase shadows and smoke,” Maebus stated. “Our people are dying!”
“Maebus!” Kelm placed a hand upon his shoulder and squeezed it tightly.
“What, Kelm?” his reply was sharp.
“I think we have already located the Finder.”
Fable immediately understood. Kelm’s gaze penetrated Maebus. She watched Maebus’ expression transform from great inquisition into absolute horror. It was clear now that Maebus also understood.
“NO!” he bellowed, pulling away from Kelm’s grip.
“Yes!” Kelm insisted.
When Kelm grabbed him by the shoulder again, Maebus shook him off. “Kelm, I’m not the one!” he protested. “I don’t believe in prophecy.”
Fable held out both her hands in an attempt to stop Maebus. “Your H
ighness, I have to agree with the Grand Wizard. Given the situation and your own unique circumstances, you being the Finder would make sense.”
“Absolutely not!” Maebus said. He paced back and forth. “The very idea is absurd, and I want no part of it!”
Kelm reached out to him. “Maebus…”
“Get off me, Kelm,” he said, ducking Kelm’s grasp and heading towards the temple steps.
“MAEBUS, STOP!” Kelm’s voice boomed through the lower interior, echoing with a force that was like a shockwave, halting Maebus in his tracks.
Kelm slowly approached Maebus. “Look at me.” he said while facing him, holding Maebus’ arms in his hands so he couldn’t escape. “You are my friend, Maebus and, in a way, I’ve always known you were special. Since we were children, your life seemed destined for greatness. I’ve seen you do things that were above and beyond. You were once the skinny boy who laughed with me, fought with me, skipped wizardry classes with me. And now you’re the Realmsic King—which you also accepted reluctantly. Yet that was only the beginning, brother. I can’t explain it, but I feel it. I believe you will not only save our Realm from Damian, but through your leadership, you will end this endless war.”
“Kelm, it can’t be me,” Maebus said. “I told you already, I’m not a believer in fate or prophecy. I’m not even convinced that this Hero of Legend is real!”
He turned his back to Kelm, stepping away from him. “How can I be the Finder? It was I who lost the Realm in the first place. It was I who yielded when Damian came.”
Fable stepped towards them. “But without that moment, this moment could never have existed. Through pain comes perspective. Through chaos comes clarity,” she said softly.
Maebus rubbed his temples as he contemplated Fable’s words. “Where did this prophecy come from?” he asked.
“From the First Wizards,” she replied.
“No, I mean, has the physical book always resided in this archive? Or did it come from someplace else?”
“Well, this particular book was once housed in the original Wizard Holdings not far from here,” Fable replied, pointing eastward. “The structure itself no longer exists, but the historical site it once stood on still does.”
Maebus squinted at the eastern wall of the archive as if trying to see through it. “Exactly how many historical sites are there in the Ancient Lands?”
“An abundance of sites exist within a mile of this location, and they’ve all remained relatively untouched.” Fable replied.
“Then perhaps we can search those locations for clues regarding the Hero of Legend. Perhaps even the true Finder,” Maebus said.
Fable crossed her arms again, considering the idea. “It’s worth a try,” she replied.
“Great!” Maebus exclaimed, grabbing several books from the shelves. “Find me as much information about this prophecy as you can. Perhaps we can narrow down which locations are relatively significant and then search them out.”
“Certainly,” Fable said, taking the books from Maebus. A brisk movement at the corner of her eye stole her attention. Normandy unexpectedly fell to the ground.
Fable jolted back, avoiding his large body. She reached towards him. “Normandy, are you…” Before she could finish, she too was immobilized by a brace of light that wrapped around her body. It locked her arms in place. As she fell to the ground from the impact, Kelm and Maebus landed next to her.
Lying sideways, Fable heard footsteps approaching. They dragged and scoffed upon the floor.
“Searching the ancient ruins to find traces of the Hero of Legend. That sounds like an excellent idea!” said a grizzly looking man who came into view. “But don’t waste your time with prophecy. It’s useless.”
“Thane!” Maebus grunted, squirming upon the ground.
“General Thane,” he corrected Maebus. He stood above their heads, brandishing a sword. Fable glanced around. Thane’s Legionarie detail had already blocked the lower-level entrance. There was no escape, not from his brace and not from the labyrinth. Fable closed her eyes in surrender, realizing that she and her friends were trapped.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“There’s no escaping this time!” General Thane said gleefully to his captives. He towered over them as they struggled on the ground, trying to free themselves. The magical braces that held them had been forged by the Warlord himself. Their bond was so strong, Thane observed, that not even Kelm’s power could break their hold.
The woodsman laid beside Kelm, squeezing his eyes in anguish, grunting and gnashing his teeth as he tried to break free.
“Resistance will only make your situation worse, tall woodsman,” Thane said. “The more you fight, the tighter the braces will become around your body.”
The woodsman continued tossing upon the ground, thrusting his legs, his face growing red with each body jerk. After several long moments, he went limp from exhaustion, sighing as he shook his head. Thane could barely hear the words the woodsman muttered to himself: “I knew we were being watched. I should have been more alert.”
“You should have stayed in the woods where you belong,” Thane replied before stepping away from his captives.
Thane took a moment to admire his surroundings. Never in his life had he seen so many books and artifacts in one place. The knowledge in their collective contents could surely make him more powerful than the Warlord himself—if he were an ambitious man. But Thane was only a soldier; a hunter, rather. And right now his only interest was his prey.
He’d tracked Maebus clear across the Realm only to be repeatedly thwarted. But not this time.
“Stand them up,” Thane ordered his men. Briskly, they picked the captives off the ground and lined them up against the labyrinth walls. The captives stood in silence as Thane approached, walking past each of them.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” he taunted, stopping at Maebus. “I knew it would only be a matter of time before I had you.”
“And what made you so confident?” Maebus asked.
Thane leaned in close. “Because I never fail.”
Maebus winced at Thane’s foul breath.
“I must share with you a secret, King Maebus,” Thane continued. “I’ve always held you in high regard. I’ve heard how you once refused an offer to join our Legion, only to rise to your own kingdom’s defense. With my own eyes, I’ve watched you fight shoulder to shoulder with your men. Indeed, you have the heart of a soldier.
“But as admirable as your intentions were, you must now accept that you have lost. Your kingdom is no more, your council is no more, your defenses are no more, and upon my discretion, you will be no more.”
Thane turned his back toward Maebus, allowing his words to settle in.
“Because of my respect for you, I will allow you to live,” Thane continued. “But no one is leaving this lair until I have the Realmsic Crystal. If I have to, I will hurt you to get it.”
“We don’t have the crystal!” Kelm shouted.
“Don’t patronize me, Wizard!” Thane snapped. “You and I both know that isn’t true.”
“You won’t find it. It was taken from the castle during the invasion. Not even we know where it is,” Kelm explained, his eyes were big and sincere.
It sounded plausible. But Thane knew it was a lie.
“How foolish do you think I am, Wizard? You expect me to believe that you would allow the source of all magic to be hidden without your knowledge? And you actually expect me to believe that you would entrust it to anyone beyond your own person?” Thane approached the Wizard cautiously, although Kelm’s arms were bound at his side.
“You said yourself that you’ve tracked us across the Realm. How would we have been able to carry the crystal?” Kelm reasoned.
Thane threw back his head and laughed. “Now I know for certain you lie. You’ve just overplayed your hand.” Thane stroked his grizzly beard before speaking again. “It’s true that I’m but a simple soldier; that I care nothing about politics, history, or
conquest. But the Warlord Damian has armed me with knowledge as well as with a strong legion of men. Few people realize the truth about the Realmsic Crystal.”
Thane grabbed Kelm’s face as the Wizard tried to avert it, forcing Kelm to stare directly at him.
“It’s easy to believe that an item as powerful as the Realmsic Crystal would be a massive stone. But this is only a misconception,” Thane explained. “In fact, the crystal is rather small. Small enough, say … to fit on a necklace.” Thane moved in even closer to Kelm, narrowing his gaze, his eyes picking over his face, across his shoulders, resting upon a silver necklace.
“Perhaps even the necklace of the Grand Wizard himself!” Thane snatched it from Kelm’s neck.
“No!” Kelm shouted, his voice amplified his terror.
Instantly, Thane felt the power emanating from it. Momentarily, it frightened him. Even with his non-magical presence, the object’s invisible force moved him, filled him with a sensation he’d never before felt. The object glowed the color red within his hand.
“Yes!” Thane exclaimed. He had finally found the Realmsic Crystal!
As Maebus collapsed to his knees, Thane knew it was all over.
“Go on! You have what you came for. Kill us!” Maebus shouted, his voice shaking with anguish.
“Oh, no, King Maebus. I’m a man of my word. I told you that you would live, and so you shall … at least for now.”
Thane turned to his men. “You!” he pointed. “You know what to do.”
Several Legionaries ran through the labyrinth and began tipping over the bookshelves, knocking their contents onto the floor. The others bashed artifacts with their swords, and smashed them with their feet.
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